His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

Chapter

29

The sound of police sirens cut through the air. I could hear them getting closer, their lights flashing in the distance. I didn't move from my spot by the window as the

police arrived, guns drawn. They approached Nathan cautiously, assessing

the scene. The rogues, battered and

bruised, were being handcuffed and

dragged away one by one.

Nathan reached the front steps and

knocked, his hand still trembling from the

fight.

I hesitated for a moment before opening the door. Nathan stood there, bloodied, bruised, and holding the bouquet like it was some sort of peace offering. His eyes flickered to the toys scattered across the floor inside the house. They belonged to

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His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

37

Oliver. The sight of them seemed to stir something in Nathan, a brief flash of guilt crossing his face.

"-" He started, then stopped. He cleared his throat, trying again. "Doris, I'm sorry. I've been a fool. I know I messed up, and I want to make things right."

I didn't say anything, just stood there, staring at him blankly. My silence seemed to make him more desperate.

"I brought these for you," he said, lifting the roses. "I know how much you love

them."

I raised an eyebrow, the coldness in my voice unmistakable. "I'm allergic to roses.

Nathan blinked, taken aback. "What?"

"Sienna told you I loved roses, didn't she?"

I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

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His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

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29

Nathan stammered, his confusion

growing. "Yeah, she-she said you loved them. I thought-"

let out a bitter laugh, shaking

"Of course she did.

day Sienna had brought me flowers when I

roses had

my skin itching so

believed

some new cosmetic that

reaction. He had

always.

face fell as he

"I-I didn't know,"

didn't." My

listened. You always believed whatever Sienna told you. You've never

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Knees, His Pleas, But Our

37

29

really,"

his knuckles white. "I'm sorry, Doris,

am. I didn't mean

interrupted, my

out of my house,

call the police again."

widened, panic setting

"Doris, please"

"I said leave,"

I

a moment longer,

change

move, didn't

away, the bouquet

his hand. I watched as

back down the steps, his

he was gone, I closed

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Pleas, By Ow SONS IN

99

against it, the weight of

me. The house

broken, the remnants of

lingering in

the first time in a long time, I felt nothing.

Just indifference.

yard, looking lost, broken, and bleeding. The sight of him disgusted me more than anything. He was clutching that stupid bouquet of roses like it was supposed to mean something, like

that had

things. He still didn't get

never had.

I

chest as I looked down at the flowers. Red

must've told him I liked